Ship s hank



(No Model.')

A. CONOVER.

SHIP'S HANK.

No. 437,573. v Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATIENT V ALFRED CONOVER, OF ABSECON, NElV JERSEY.

SHIPS HANK.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,573, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed January 16, 1890. Serial No. 337,133- (No model.)

To all whom it may comer-m.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED CONOVER, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Absecon, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hanks; and I do hereby declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a secure and efficient hank for bending sails; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device, and Figs. 2 and. 3 are like views of a modifi cation. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3, opened by swinging the pivoted parts one upon the other. Fig. 5 is a like View of the form shown in Fig. 1, the hinged part being thrown open 5 and Fig. 6 is a central section of Fig. 1. I

In the several views like figures refer to similar parts.

1 indicates a metal ring, which may vary in dimensions, but which for an ordinary use may be made about three inches in diameter. To this is joined, as shown, a larger ring 2, which, however, is not complete, but has its wall extended in two parallel wings or brackets 3 3, situated ata small distance from each other. To one of these is attached. a cylindrical part 4, which is provided with a screw-threaded opening to receive a screw 5, which passes through both wings and said cylindrical part. The ring 1 is-not made entire, but is provided with a hinge-joint at 6, and it is also sectioned at 7, the construction being such that a wing or bracket and a connected part of rings 1 and 2 can be swung aside on the hinge, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the pivot of the hinge is arranged longitudinally, so that the brackets are separated by a lateral movement instead of a movement in the plane of the rings, as in the construction shown in Fig. 1; and, further, the pivot is or may be made to carry a friction -roller, or the pivot itself may be shaped and adapted to serve as such roller. The construction not only provides for said anti friction device, but it enables a larger pivot and an enlarged bearing to 'be used,-

which features are desirable under certain circumstances. I i

In applying the hank it is first opened by turningthe parts on the above-described hinge and placing it upon the stay, rod, or spar to which the sail is to be bent. The bolt-rope of the sail is then brought in position to be entered in the lesser ring 2, and thereupon the parts are closed by turning them back on the hinge, the part or pin 1 being simultaneously entered in a suitable grommet and the screw 5 passed through the bracketto secure the various parts in operative position.

As before stated, the forms illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 provide a friction-roller, which will facilitate the movement of the hank 0n the stay. That shown in Fig. 2 can be advantageously employed in situations where the projecting parts or bearings 8 8 are not liable to be caught by the ropes of .the sails.

In Fig. 3 is shown a form which is adapted to avoid any difficulty of this sort, the ring 1 being somewhat thickened both to furnish bearings for a larger pivot or roller and also to permit its exterior at 9 to be made'of such contour as 'not to catch or obstruct lines or sails. The said enlargement of the pivot has importance, as the whole strain will be brought upon it and the device will of course be no stronger than this hinge-joint, and though the hinge illustrated in Fig. 1 is operative and can be used with practical success it is inferior in point of strength to that shown in the other figures. Both forms of my improvement avoid weakening the hank by a joint immediately above the stay, where the greatest strain occurs and where the stay chafes and wears the most. They also avoid abrupt projections, such as are caused'by overlapping sections and by sudden breaks or bends, which projections are liable to catch lines and are objectionable.

I am aware that heretofore a hank has been proposed consisting of two equal pivoted arms adapted, when properly secured, to receive a stay'and also to clamp the material of a sail between elastic disks. In such device the said arms were hinged at their upper parts, which in use are in contact with the stay, and the dragging of the hank on the stay was tended to clasp the said cloth, whereas my improvement employs a bearing or stud 4, adapted for use with a grommet, no elastic clamping-disks being required; and, further, I complete the larger ring that receives the stay, as represented at 7, whereby ropo, strands, or other material are prevented from catching, and whereby, also, the hank is stayed against the force of edgewise blows.

I am aware that a hank made prior to my I improvement embodied two rings formed by suitably -shaped overlapping parts, one of which was, smaller than the other and constituted a removable side piece; The overlapping ends of such construction leave shoulders, which are objectionable, it being of special importance in this kind of devices that all angular and other unnecessary projections or breaks be avoided, as in my construction. This prior device, moreover, cannot be suitably and conveniently held in open position with one hand, the side piece being liable to turn on its central pivot when not desired; nor can the upper ring be partially closed upon the stay and hung thereon while the leach or bolt-rope of the sail is being entered in the lower ring. By my construction one of the hinged members can be placed over the stay and held in one hand, and it will, if desired, permit the person applying it to steady himself thereby while in the act of introducing the bolt-rope, and under no circumstances are both hands required either to keep the hank open or to close it.

In the device first above set forth as old the pressure of the stay upon the hinge would interfere with the operation and effect above described, while in mine the largerpart can be hooked over the stay and the fall by gravity of the other part to or nearits closed position can be controlled, and the whole device can be manipulated by the fingers of the same hand that holds the larger part.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The hank comprising the larger ring ent-irely free from abrupt or angular project-ions or breaks, and having two parts hinged at their extremities to allow their opposite ends to be separated by turning the parts on the hinge-pivot, said pivot being located at one side of that part of the hank that normally bears upon the stay, and a connected lesser ring provided with brackets having a pin for the sail-grommet, and afastening device, substantially as set forth.

2. The hank comprising rings formed of two parts hinged at their extremities by a pivot arranged longitudinally to the larger ring, said pivot having a bearing on each side of that part of the ring which normally rests upon the stay, said ring being free from angular or other abrupt projections or breaks, and the lesser ring provided with brackets having a pin for the sail-grommet,anda fasteningscrew, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED OONOVER.

\Vitnesses:

TALCOTT P. WATERS, JOHN D. BATEs. 

